What kind of questions should I ask myself if I wanted to consider elementary education as a career?

Yes its me again this time with elementary education. Ok I figure it is an easier program than nursing. So basically any "in a nutshell" type information such as questions to ask myfelf to see if if that is something would really like doing. Right now all I am thinking is classes that are not that hard, and a possible job in the school system with benefits.

Do I REALLY, REALLY like children? Can I deal with a child's parent calling me because I didn't let their son/daughter go to the restroom? Can I deal with children constantly tattling on one another about the most minute things? (Misssssssssssssssss, John took my eraser! Misssssssssssssss Lily touched my desk!) Do I know how to deal with irate parents? Do I know how to deal with parents who believe their child is an angel as opposed to the Satan's Spawn that he really is? Do I want to grade papers for hours after I get home? Can I multitask? Am I flexible? Am I ready to deal with the fact that very few people consider me to be a REAL PROFESSIONAL? Am I ready to dedicate all of my Sunday evenings to lesson planning? Can I deal with the pay? Am I ready to be constantly observed by administrators, city administrators, and the state? (GO NCLB!!!!) Am I ready to be a parent, counselor, friend, scapegoat and teacher? Can I sit in a room with the same 20-35 children everyday for nine months? Do I need to interact with adults during my workday? Do I work well on a strongly regimented schedule? Can I function with a 20 minute lunch that I may or may not have to spend with my class and maybe a 40-50 minute a few times a week? Can I deal with the HUGE sacrifice that everyone expects me to make because I'm a teacher and teaching is a bleeding heart job? Can I deal with people belittling my job because I get summers off (even though I spend the whole summer planning for the next school year!)? Can I deal with people making me feel guilty when you use a sick day because I am on my death-bed? Can I deal with the incredible responsibility it is to have 20-35 kids in my care at ALL TIMES?

I could go on and on!!! Teaching is rewarding for some, but not for all. It's a lot of work and responsibility. I strongly recommend that you really get into classrooms and talk to teachers to see what it is REALLY like. It's not as easy as you think.

Do I like being with kids for hours, days, months , years? What age kids? Am I any good at teaching other people? Am I Patient? Can I be firm, but fair? How do I handle kids who are defiant, disruptive, and unproductive? Do I have a clue what the state requirements are for each grade level in each subject area? What will I be expected to teach? What do I have to do besides teach kids? What do I know about No Child Left Behind Law? What do I know about IDEA law? What do I do with 504 kids? What do I have to do to prepare for the position? Have I followed a teacher around all day and asked questions so I know what to expect? What is the beginning pay for local teachers? Can I live on that salary? What are the benefits? Are they comparable with other careers? What is the retirement program look like? Is it solid?
If you don't have the answers to all these questions, and most people don't, start at the website for your state department of education. You will find mountains of information. Second, select a teacher from each level you are considering and make an appointment to interview them. Shadow them at school if possible. Go to websites about federal laws and how they are implemented in classrooms. I guess, having been a teacher for more than 30 years, I think teaching is much harder than you realize. However, it is very rewarding.

I would even volunteer in different types of schools to get first hand experience working with students.

Can you keep your mouth shut to idiot parents who either push their kids,want you to give them good grades they didn't earn, ignore their kids but you better not, how politic are you?

what grade did you have in mind?

Are you at all flexible?
Multi-tasking is important.
Are you intuitive? do you know what to say and at the right time to motivate?
Do you hate repeating yourself? And you have to have patience when the slowpokes can't get a move on for some reason.
Do you think reading is so important that you will do ANYTHING to get those kids reading at home? And be willing to have them read 20 minutes a day in your classroom?
It helps if you are naturally organized.

Oh, yes, be a substitute teacher. Actually, be a teacher's assistant first and watch the teacher.

there is a website for this. Google characteristics of a good elementary school teacher and see what pops up.

I found some interesting facts and things to think about on the U.S. Dept of Labor site: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos069.htm

Some additional sites that offer job descriptions and things to think about:

http://www.alleducationschools.com/faqs/...
http://www.teacher-world.com/teacher-edu...

Good luck!